Ex-Premier League referee faces sentence over child image offence
Court appearance and charge
David Coote arrived at Nottingham Crown Court shortly after 9am on Thursday to be sentenced after previously admitting to making an indecent image of a child.
The 43 year old, who is from Newark, pleaded guilty to creating a single category A indecent image on January 2, 2020. Category A is the most serious classification under UK law and applies to the creation, possession or distribution of the most severe material. Convictions can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Sentencing was originally scheduled for December 11, 2025 but was postponed after Coote’s barrister was unable to attend in person.
Legal position before sentencing
Since entering his guilty plea in October, Coote has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The length of time he remains subject to notification requirements will be determined by the sentence imposed by the court.
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While awaiting sentencing, he was released on conditional bail. Those conditions barred him from contacting anyone under the age of 18 and from living at an address where children reside. He has also been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, limiting his activities and behaviour.
Judge’s warning on custody
Following Coote’s guilty plea, Judge Nirmal Shant KC made clear that a custodial sentence remained a possibility.
“As far as you are concerned you have pleaded guilty to a serious matter,” the judge said.
“Whether custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court.
You mustn't go away with impression that this automatically means a non custodial sentence, it doesn't.”
How the case emerged
According to the Crown Prosecution Service, the investigation began after the Football Association examined concerns relating to Coote.
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Mobile phones reviewed by a third party during that process uncovered two conversations which, prosecutors said, “appeared to indicate Mr Coote had a sexual interest in children”.
Police then launched a criminal investigation and arrested Coote at his home. Officers seized a PGMOL registered Dell laptop, on which a category A video was later discovered. Prosecutors said the footage involved a 15 year old child and had been accessed on the same date cited in the charge.
From elite referee to dismissal
Coote was once a regular fixture in Premier League matches and international competitions. His professional standing collapsed in December 2024 after a video circulated showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Football Association later charged him over the comments, which included calling Klopp a “German ****”. In February 2025, UEFA imposed a separate ban after footage appeared to show Coote snorting white powder in a hotel room while officiating at Euro 2024 in Germany.
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A sentencing that closes a dramatic downfall
The court hearing marks the latest chapter in a rapid and public downfall for a former elite official whose career ended amid scandal. The sentence handed down will determine not only his immediate future but also how long he remains subject to strict legal supervision.
Sources, Daily Mail reporting, Crown Prosecution Service
